Automated microscope system

ABSTRACT

The automated microscope system ( 30 ) comprises a box in which at least one control and power supply unit ( 34 ) is installed. The box is arranged physically separately from the microscope stand ( 32 ) and is connected to the microscope stand ( 32 ) with a cable ( 38 ). In one exemplary embodiment, a computer unit ( 36 ) is connected to the box that contains at least one control and power supply unit ( 34 ).

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation patent application of allowed U.S.application Ser. No. 09/915,012, filed Jul. 25, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No.6,717,725. This invention claims priority of the German utility modelapplication DE 200 13 359 U1 filed Aug. 3, 2000. All of theseapplications are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns an automated microscope system. In particular,the invention concerns an automated microscope system which isconfigured such that no thermal, stability, or focus problems occur inthe microscope stand.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

U.S. Pat. No. 4,329,015 discloses a microscope having an illuminationdevice separate from the microscope stand. The illumination device isconnected to the microscope via a light-guiding cable. The result of thephysical separation between the microscope stand and the illuminationdevice is that the heat generated by the illumination device isdecoupled from the microscope stand. An automated microscope is notdisclosed.

German Unexamined Application DE 198 39 777 discloses an electricmicroscope. The electric microscope comprises a data input unit forinputting objective data, an objective data memory, a control circuit, arevolving nosepiece, a nosepiece switcher, a nosepiece drive motor, anosepiece driver circuit, a rotational position sensor for sensing therotational position of the nosepiece, a coder for continuously sensingthe rotational position of the nosepiece, and other components necessaryfor a conventional microscope. It is evident from the disclosure of DE198 39 777 that all the aforementioned elements are arranged directly onor in the microscope stand. The problem of excessive heat generation bythe large number of electronic elements in or directly on the stand wasnot acknowledged or addressed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore the object of the invention to provide an automatedmicroscope in which the thermal drift in the stand is prevented, andstable focus is thus guaranteed. A further object of the presentinvention is to provide an economical automation system for differentmicroscope sizes and for different microscope types.

The object is achieved by an automated microscope system which ischaracterized in that a box is provided in which at least one controland power supply unit is installed; and that the box is arrangedphysically separately from the microscope stand and is connected to themicroscope stand with at least one data cable.

One advantage of the invention is that the separation of the control andpower supply unit from the microscope results in a particular degree ofvariability. Automation can be achieved for different microscope types.It is possible to achieve rapid adaptation of the control operations tothe different microscope types (upright and/or inverted microscopes).

A further advantage of the invention is that there is no need to uselarge stands for the automation system with integrated electronics. Inaddition, because of the invention it is no longer necessary fordifferent circuit boards to be produced for each of the various types ofstand. This yields a considerable cost advantage, since multipleidentical circuit boards can be produced and used with the differenttypes of stand. For certain applications (specimen dissection, computerindustry), the space around the microscope is sometimes restricted, sothat it is important for the microscope itself to require little space.A small microscope, which is connected to the external control and powersupply unit only via a cable, is particularly suitable here.

A further advantage of the invention is that the workstation around themicroscope can be much better organized. Even with large microscopeshaving many controllable functions, it is often not possible to houseall the control units in the microscope stand. Additional units for thecorresponding controllers are thus required on the workstation, whichnegatively affects organization and ergonomics. A further advantage ofthe invention is that the control box possesses the same shape andconfiguration regardless of the application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter of the invention is schematically depicted in thedrawings and will be described below with reference to the Figures, inwhich:

FIG. 1 shows a microscope according to the existing art;

FIG. 2 shows an automatic microscope according to the invention;

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of an automatic microscope according tothe invention; and,

FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of an automatic microscope accordingto the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a microscope 1 having a revolving objective nosepiece 17; aspecimen stage 22 adjustable in motor-driven fashion in the Z direction,on which is arranged an X-Y scanning device having drive motors 23 and24; a focusing device having a stepping motor 4; and a central driveknob 2 that is coupled to an encoder 6. Encoder 6 delivers a slower orfaster pulse train as drive knob 2 is rotated slowly or quickly. Acontrol device 3 records only the number of pulses.

Several switches 11, 15, 19, 21, 25, which are electrically connected tocontrol device 3, are provided on microscope stand 5. Also arranged inmicroscope 1 are a brightness control device 20 for lamp housing 29 witha light source 28, a speed control circuit 10 for focusing drive 4, andan interface 26. Arranged in illuminating beam path 13 of microscope 1,in aperture diaphragm plane AP and field diaphragm plane LF,respectively, are diaphragms 12, 16 whose openings are modifiable viarespective motors 14, 18.

Drive knob 2 with downstream encoder 6 is electrically connected tocontrol device 3. As knob 2 is turned, the pulses generated by encoder 6are recorded in control device 3. Motor 4, preferably a stepping motor,has current applied to it via control device 3 for corresponding Zdisplacement of specimen stage 22. The number of encoder pulsesdetermines the linear stroke of the motor; the number of pulses per unittime determines the motor displacement speed.

Additionally superimposed on this Z displacement, via three preselectionbuttons 11 and a speed control circuit 10, is a manually preselectablespeed component that multiplies or steps down the encoder pulse trainwhich depends on the rotation of drive knob 2. This can be utilized, forexample, to establish a smooth startup of the motor control system.

With preselection buttons 11, it is possible in this fashion to simulatea mechanical conversion ratio drive; in other words, the user canpreselect, by way of a corresponding speed, the functionality of a fineor coarse drive in order to focus any particular objective. For thispurpose, for example, an individual pulse delivered by encoder 6 is usedto control two or more steps at motor 4 in order to achieve a greaterconversion ratio. This is advantageous, for example, when focusinglow-magnification objectives. In combination with coded objectivechanging apparatuses, the advantageous drive ratio conversion can alsobe performed automatically by control device 3.

Arranged downstream from encoder 6 is a stepping motor 9 that isconnected electrically to control device 3 and mechanically to the shaftof drive knob 2. Stepping motor 9 is configured as an electricallyoperating brake for drive knob 2. In predefined working regions, forexample in the vicinity of the upper and lower end stops of microscopestage 22, stepping motor 9 is initially made currentless via controldevice 3 and is therefore rotated unimpededly by drive knob 2. Uponreaching the working region limit—which can be defined, for example, byway of suitable threshold values such as maximum permitted number ofpulses—motor 9 is energized by the control device. In this state, it isdifficult to continue turning drive knob 2. Control device 3 can controlthis function, for example, in such a way that the drag of drive knob 2is continuously increased as the working region limit is reached, untilcomplete immobilization occurs.

An X-Y scanning device, with drive motors 23 and 24, is provided onmicroscope stage 22. The X and Y motions are again controlled via driveknob 2. For that purpose, preselection switch 25 is electricallyconnected to control device 3. Upon actuation of this switch, forexample, the Z-drive functionality of drive knob 2 is switched over tothe X- or Y-drive functionality. This makes it possible, with drive knob2, to arrive successively at a specific X and Y position for a specimen.The functionality of stepping motor 9 is retained, by analogy with the Zdrive instance. The working region limits imposed here are the maximum Xand Y displacement travels.

Brightness control device 20 for light source 28 is also electricallyconnected to control device 3. The brightness control functionality isswitched over to drive knob 3 using switch 21. By analogy with thefunctions already described, the brightness of light source 28 can beadjusted by way of the encoder pulses of drive knob 2.

Aperture diaphragm 12 and field diaphragm 16, which are controllable inmotorized fashion, are activated via switches 15 and 19. Actuatingmotors 14 and 18 are electrically connected to control device 3. Afteractivation of the respective switch 15 or 19, actuating motor 14 or 18is controlled via drive knob 2 and adjustment of the respectivediaphragm 12 or 16 is accomplished.

The above-described drive motors or actuating motors are each steppingmotors which are controlled by individual pulses that are emitted fromencoder 6 and can be counted in control device 3. The position ofdiaphragms 12, 16, of microscope stage 22, and of the scanning devicecan be ascertained by way of the recorded pulses. As is clearly evidentfrom FIG. 1, the electronic circuits necessary for controlling themicroscope (control device 3, speed control circuit 10, brightnesscontrol device 20, and lamp housing 29) are provided in or directly onthe stand of microscope 1.

An automatic microscope system 30 according to the invention is depictedin FIG. 2. The individual components of a microscope stand 32 need notbe discussed further, since they have been sufficiently described inFIG. 1. Automatic microscope system 30 comprises a microscope stand 32,a control and power supply unit 34 and, in a further embodiment, also acomputer unit or control panel 36. Computer unit 36 is connected tocontrol and power supply unit 34 via a data cable 40. Control and powersupply unit 34 itself is connected to microscope stand 32 via at leastone distribution cable 38 which comprises electrical lines (notdepicted) and optionally also a light guide (not depicted). By using alight guide, the light generated by a lamp (not depicted) in control andpower supply unit 34 is transported into microscope stand 32, where itis coupled in suitable fashion into the optical beam path of microscopestand 32 and illuminates a specimen. It is also conceivable for the lampto be built into microscope stand 32. In this embodiment, acorresponding transformer that represents the energy supply is locatedin control and power supply unit 34. Control and power supply unit 34 isconfigured as a closed box in which the various control units and powersupply units (such as power supplies for the lamp, motors, etc.) arehoused. Sufficient space is also present in the box so that additionalequipment for controlling microscope 31 can be installed as applicable.

A further embodiment of the automatic microscope system 30 according tothe invention is depicted in FIG. 3. Identical elements as alreadydisclosed in FIG. 2 are marked with the same reference numeral. Thecontrol and power supply unit 34 is configured such that it is suitableto take up at least one slide-in standardized circuit board 50. Thecontrol and power supply unit 34 and consequently the circuit boards 50can be used for various types of the microscope stand. The at least onecircuit board can be used for controlling at least one motor or lamphoused within said microscope stand. Said box possesses the samephysical dimensions regardless of the use of an upright or invertedmicroscope. Control and power supply unit 34 itself is connected tomicroscope stand 32 via at least one distribution cable 38 whichcomprises electrical lines (not depicted) and optionally also a lightguide (not depicted). Sufficient space is also present in the box sothat additional circuit boards 50 for controlling microscope 31 can beinstalled as applicable.

FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of the present invention. Automaticmicroscope system 30 comprises a microscope stand 32, a control andpower supply unit 34, and a computer unit or control panel 36. Computerunit 36 is connected to control and power supply unit 34 via a datacable 40. Control and power supply unit 34 itself is connected tomicroscope stand 32 via at least one distribution cable 38 whichcomprises electrical lines (not depicted). Light guide 42 is separatefrom data cable 38 in this embodiment. By using a light guide, the lightgenerated by lamp 44 in control and power supply unit 34 is transportedinto microscope stand 32, where it is coupled in suitable fashion intothe optical beam path of microscope stand 32 and illuminates a specimen.

The invention has been described with reference to a particularembodiment. It is nevertheless self-evident that changes andmodifications can be made without thereby leaving the range ofprotection of the claims recited hereinafter.

Parts List

-   1 Microscope-   2 Drive knob-   3 Control device-   4 Focusing motor-   5 Microscope stand-   6 Encoder-   9 Motor (for drive knobs 2)-   10 Speed control circuit-   11 Preselection switch-   12 Aperture diaphragm-   13 Illuminating beam path-   14 Actuating motor (for aperture diaphragm 12)-   15 Switch (actuating motor 14)-   16 Field diaphragm-   17 Revolving objective nosepiece-   18 Actuating motor (field diaphragm 16)-   19 Switch (actuating motor 18)-   20 Brightness control device-   21 Switch (for brightness control device 20)-   22 Microscope stage-   23 Actuating motor (for X displacement of 22)-   24 Actuating motor (for Y displacement of 22)-   25 Preselection switch (for actuating motor 23 and 24)-   28 Light source-   29 Lamp housing-   30 Automatic microscope system-   31 Microscope-   32 Microscope stand-   34 Control and power supply unit-   36 Operating and computer unit-   38 Distribution cable-   40 Data cable-   AP Aperture diaphragm plane-   LF Field diaphragm plane

1. An automated microscope system, comprising: a microscope including amicroscope stand; and, a box including at least one power supply unitand control for use with multiple circuit boards for use with differenttypes of microscope stands, said box arranged physically separate fromsaid microscope stand and connected to said microscope stand by at leastone connecting cable, wherein said control is used for controlling atleast one motor or lamp housed within said microscope stand.
 2. Theautomated microscope system as defined in claim 1 further comprising anoperating and computer unit connected to said box.
 3. The automatedmicroscope system as defined in claim 1 wherein said box possesses thesame physical dimensions regardless of the use of an upright or invertedmicroscope.
 4. The automated microscope system as defined in claim 1wherein said box possesses the same shape and configuration regardlessof the use of an upright or inverted microscope.
 5. The automatedmicroscope system as defined in claim 1 further comprising a lamp housedin said box, wherein said at least one connecting cable is a light guidethat couples light generated by said lamp into said microscope stand. 6.The automated microscope system as defined in claim 1 wherein said atleast one motor is selected from the group consisting of a focusingmotor, a drive knob motor, an aperture diaphragm motor, a fielddiaphragm motor, a stage X-direction motor, and a stage Y-directionmotor.
 7. An automated microscope system, comprising: a microscopeincluding a microscope stand; and, a box including at least one powersupply unit and control for use with multiple circuit boards for usewith different types of microscope stands, said box arranged physicallyseparate from said microscope stand and connected to said microscopestand by at least one connecting cable, wherein said control is used forcontrolling at least one motor and lamp housed within said microscopestand.
 8. The automated microscope system as defined in claim 7comprising an operating and computer unit connected to said box.
 9. Theautomated microscope system as defined in claim 7 wherein said boxpossesses the same physical dimensions regardless of the use of anupright or inverted microscope.
 10. The automated microscope system asdefined in claim 7 wherein said box possesses the same shape andconfiguration regardless of the use of an upright or invertedmicroscope.
 11. The automated microscope system as defined in claim 7further comprising a lamp housed in said box, wherein said at least oneconnecting cable is a light guide that couples light generated by saidlamp into said microscope stand.
 12. The automated microscope system asdefined in claim 7 wherein said at least one motor is selected from thegroup consisting of a focusing motor, a drive knob motor, an aperturediaphragm motor, a field diaphragm motor, a stage X-direction motor, anda stage Y-direction motor.